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JANUARY 2012 - TEVET/SHEVAT/ADAR 5772
Israel – Feel the Connection
Over the past years, Temple Emanu-El has strengthened three avenues that allow us to show our love and support for Israel in ways beyond financial support.
The first way is through AIPAC – the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Our Temple delegation to AIPAC’s annual Policy Conference has grown exponentially from 7 people to north of 130 last year. This year, we want to reach even higher and hope to be close to 200 delegates. The beauty in supporting AIPAC is that regardless of your personal political stripe, we realize and actively participate in the shaping and strengthening of the Israel-American relationship. It is exhilarating to listen to the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House and elected officials and understanding that our presence and our role in lobbying them on key issues vital to Israel’s safety and security and in the best interest of our United States is really in our hands and our feet. Perhaps the greatest testimony to AIPAC’s success is that contagious nature that others are inspired and participate. Each time I return home from Washington I feel invigorated and satisfied knowing I personally helped America and Israel.
The second way our Temple has made support for Israel a hands on experience is by visiting Israel. To date, in the past 4 plus years we have led 5 official missions from our Temple to Israel. More exciting is that we are in the throes of planning two more; a women’s mission in April and a family trip at the end of August. These trips, for many their first to Israel, contextualizes the issues, struggles and real-life excitement that is our shared homeland. When people return home from any of these trips, they are changed people. Their leadership in the community is increased and their resolve galvanized. Kids feel a sense of crossing the “t”s and dotting of “I”s in their Jewish education. Words do not give justice to the emotions and feelings of dancing at the kotel with Israeli soldiers and climbing Masada during an early morning hike, floating in the dead sea and soaking up the night life in Tel Aviv, or feeding soup to the hungry in Jerusalem. These experiences are powerful and are some of the best investments we can make in support of Israel.
Lastly, we have worked hard at our shule on creating more dialogue, awareness and environments for discussions about the complex life of Israel. From religious pluralism to defense to existential threats from Iran to borders and Israeli cuisine, we have established study groups and dialogue platforms for better educating our congregants to address the said topics at the dinner table or the water cooler. Ultimately, having more information at our finger tips gives us a different feeling of ownership and holders of a shared stock.
If over the course of the next weeks and months you want to show your support and involvement, join us at AIPAC, consider one of our trips to Israel or join us for one of our study/discussion groups. I hope it strengthens your feelings and connection to our shared homeland! For more information please call the office and we will be more than happy to help you.
Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner
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